Book excerpt: For the first time the discipline of modern inorganic chemistry has been systematized according to a plan constructed by a council of editorial advisors and consultants, among them three Nobel laureates (E.O. Fischer, H. Taube and G. Wilkinson). Rather than producing a collection of unrelated review articles, the series creates a framework which reflects the creative potential of this scientific discipline. Thus, it stimulates future development by identifying areas which are fruitful for further research. The work is indexed in a unique way by a structured system which maximizes its usefulness to the reader. It augments the organization of the work by providing additional routes of access for specific compounds, reactions and other topics.